Buyer's guide: vacuum cleaners

Don't be sucked in when it comes to these hardworking appliances. Here are the features to look out for.

Vacuum cleaners come in all price brackets with features galore. But which ones deliver the best cleaning outcome for your home? Consider the types of surfaces that need to be cleaned, whether deep-pile or low-pile carpets, hard floors, stairs, upholstery or a car interior. Storage and weight are also important, as well as noise levels, cord reach and ease of handling.

Dusting power

According to Ross Cameron, Managing Director (South-East Asia) of Dyson, the most important consideration is why you're vacuuming in the first place. "Obviously you want to get rid of dust and dirt effectively," he says. "Look for a machine that gives continuous performance and no loss of suction so you can vacuum consistently throughout the house."

Cameron believes that traditional bagged cleaners (with dust bags and backup filters) have a fundamental flaw in that they lose suction power as they operate and become full. He cites Dyson's 'multi-cyclone' system as an alternative; it spins dirt out of the air so that dust doesn't have a chance to block the filters or reduce performance.

Many consumers are drawn to grab-and-go cleaners with sleek, modern designs, says Julian Huitfeldt, Product Marketing Manager at Electrolux. "Subtle features such as soft-ride wheels that protect wood floors, or soft rubber contact points that won't scuff walls or leave marks on furniture, are important, too," says Huitfeldt.

Barrel, upright or hand-held?

According to Bissell's National Sales Manager, Jeff Gardner, the best of the traditional models is an upright vacuum cleaner that includes a brush roll to agitate the carpet. Next best is a barrel-style cleaner – the kind that has a flexible hose up front, motor and dust collector in a canister behind – equipped with a power nozzle. This last feature is a cleaning brush with in-built motor, and is especially good for picking up pet hairs. The sheer manoeuvrability of barrel models, says Gardner, gives them the edge over uprights in sales volume.

Gardner suggests looking for the highest HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) grade to give you the best filtration of dust particles. "It's not enough to just use the term HEPA," he says. "It must be backed up with a number." Currently the highest domestic grades are HEPA H13 and H14.

Hand-held vacuum cleaners are ideal for quick clean-ups. Thirty years after Black & Decker came out with the original Dustbuster, their latest version is claimed to be the only cordless vacuum on the market with an integrated flexible hose to tackle hard-to-reach areas.

In the bag?

There's been a big move towards bagless vacuum cleaners in the past 10 years. LG's Kompressor Plus, for example, compresses the dust it collects into solids, minimising mess when it's time to empty the canister. For those who prefer the convenience of bags, these are more efficient than ever. Miele's HyClean dust bags, used in its new S 5 series of vacuum cleaners, feature protective netting inside and out to protect against any damage caused by sharp objects entering at high speed, plus tear-proof welded seams and nine filtration layers to retain dust.

Extra features to look out for across all brands include telescopic handles, hard-floor brushes, variable power control, extra hose length and even separate wet and dry settings.

Suck it up

Allergy and asthma sufferers have long debated the merits of hard floors versus carpet. Associate Professor Dr Peter Dingle, a leading researcher in the field of health andthe environment at Perth's Murdoch University, initially held that hard floors were better for people with allergies because they don't trap dust, but over time, he has come to believe that carpet's ability to retain dust particles and reduce airborne irritants is key to keeping pollution levels low for allergy sufferers. It's important not to re-expel irritants when vacuuming.This is a big selling point of Dyson vacuum cleaners, which carry the National Asthma Council Australia's Sensitive Choice seal. Air expelled from Dyson cleaners, the company claims, contains 150 times less mould and bacteria than the air going in.

Consider Versatility Some uprights can also function as barrel cleaners, with a detachable hose that navigates easily around furniture.

Size If you need an easy-to-store vacuum cleaner, look out for a compact version that doesn't compromise on power.

Noise Miele's S 5211 has a silence setting to reduce operating sound to the level of a boiling kettle.

Accessories Tools should fit precisely, without airflow leaks.

Power High wattage doesn't necessarily translate to higher performance. Check out the suction power as well.